Gender violence is on the agenda

Bail laws and greater data sharing between states about high risk or serial perpetrators was on the agenda at talks about the prevention of violence against women. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus hosted police ministers in Canberra on Friday at a meeting to discuss what more could be done to protect women and reduce domestic violence.

Ahead of the meeting, Anthony Albanese said co-operation between the states was key in tackling what he described as a national crisis.

“States and territories will all come together at the AttorneyGeneral meeting to talk about the law, justice system, bail laws, those matters that are the primary responsibility of states and territories,” the Prime Minister said.

It comes days after South Australia passed laws targeting repeat offenders with strict stay-at-home orders and requiring those who break intervention orders and are bailed to wear an ankle monitor. At least 28 women have died this year from gendered violence.

Mr Albanese held an emergency meeting of national cabinet this week, announcing a Morrison-era trial program to financially assist women leaving violent relations will be made permanent.

The trial Escaping Violence Payment will be called the Leaving Violence Payment and roll out next year at the end of the trial, with funding of $925m over five years.

Mr Albanese described it as “two steps forward”.

“What we’ve done is to beef up the program to make sure that there’s more, more support, not just the financial payment, but that those support services kick in as well,” he said. The program, which seeks to help people with the financial costs of escaping a violent intimate relationship, offers eligible people up to $1500 in cash and $3500 in vouchers.

The one-off payment of $5000 was first introduced under the former Morrison government in 2021 but was revised in response to heightened concerns over its strict eligibility requirements.